Biography

07/03/1864 - 11/14/1917

James Patrick McNichol, Sr. (R7) Philadelphia (Part) County 1905-1906 (R3) Philadelphia (Part) County 1907-1918

Early Life:

James Patrick McNichol, Sr., born July 3, 1864, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; son of James and Catherine McNichol; public school education; Pierce’s Business College; engaged, building contractor; married, Anastasia Agnes Fasy McNichol, 1884 (d.1909), children, Daniel J. McNichol, Joseph Ignatius McNichol, John F. McNichol, Harry Aloysius McNichol, James Patrick McNichol, Jr., Agnes Toner, Frank J. McNichol, Dunstan McNichol, William J. McNichol, Helen M. McNichol, Mary McNichol; married, Margaret Frances Donohue, 1910; member, Select Council, 1898; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate 1905-1917; delegate, Republican National Convention, 1916; died, November 14, 1917 (aged 53), in the office of the Senate, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, McNichol Mausoleum, Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. 

Early Career:

At an early age he engaged in the contracting business with uncle, Daniel, at D. J. McNichol Brothers, upon the death of the head of the firm, became its title member. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Member, Select Council, 1898. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 7th district, Philadelphia (Part) County, 1905-1906, standing committee assignments, Senate of Pennsylvania, extraordinary and regular session, 1906, City Passenger Railways, Insurance, Judiciary Special. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 3rd district, Philadelphia (Part) County, 1907-1918, committee assignments, Appropriations, City Passenger Railways, Congressional Apportionment, Corporations, Elections (Chairman), Executive Nominations, Finance, Insurance, Judiciary Special, Law and Order, Municipal Affairs, Public Roads and Highways; died, November 14, 1917, in the office of the Senate.  

Extraordinary session, legislation accomplished by the Senate, 1906, personal registration law, direct primary legislation, enacted; up until this legislation candidates were chosen at conventions.

Delegate, Republican National Convention, 1916.

Legacy:

From the New York Times obituary, of his son, William James McNichol, Sr., referenced that his father, was known as “Strawberry Jim”. His nickname came to him, when he testified before a committee of reformers, he challenged the knowledge of its conditions and said “I’ve been up and down the financial lines. I used to have baked beans for breakfast in June and now I can have strawberries in January if I want them.” 

Son, Edward Joseph McNichol, head men's basketball coach, University of Pennsylvania, 1920–1930. His first Penn team finished the season with a 21–2 record and was retroactively named the national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation. Record: 186–63 (.747). 

In The End... All You Really Have Is Memories (fultonhistory.com)

Son, William James McNichol, Sr., Pennsylvania State Senate, 3rd district, Philadelphia (Part) County, 1919-1920.

William James McNichol Sr. - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Cox, Harold. Senate1790-1869 (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1906) Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 829-834.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1917). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1150, 1162, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1094.

The Philadelphia Record (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Friday, November 16, 1917, Page 17. 

James P. McNichol Sr. (1864-1917) - Find a Grave Memorial